TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM READY FOR TOUGH ROAD GAME IN JENA
Building on their impressive team win over Bayreuth, ratiopharm Ulm heads east for a challenging road game against a strong TuS Jena team in an important 2.Bundesliga South matchup Saturday at Jena's Lobeda Sportscenter.
Ulm guard Peter Heizer hopes to fly high in Jena
A difficult place to play, Jena is a traditionally strong team that is well coached and physical. One of two 2.Bundesliga South teams in the former east Germany, Jena provides visiting teams a tough road trip and a load, rowdy environment. Currently 6-2, Jena enters a stretch in their schedule against the top teams in the league (Ulm, Nurnberg and Heidelberg) for 3 conscutive weeks. Certainly the team and fans will be excited for tipoff on Saturday.
To this point in the season, Jena has revolved around talented guard Michael Lake. A veteran of 2.Bundesliga South play after successful stints with both Bayreuth and Kaiserslautern, Lake has averaged 23.9ppg 5.8assists and 4.4steals while shooting 35% from three. He scored 31 points in a hardfought German Cup loss to Bundesliga Ludwigsburg earlier in the month and has been in top form in recent league games. His value to the Jena team is gold.
For example, last weekend, playing in Kronberg, Jena lost Lake to injury midway through the game and eventually lost the game 78-77. Lake's injured ankle is severe enough to keep him from action but with such an important stretch in the season, expect the veteran American guard to do everything possible to get back on the court and help his team.
New in Jena: Sebastian Machowski
In the interim, Jena head coach Frank Menz dug deep into his recruiting bag of tricks and found a positive solution --- 32 year old former German National team player Sebastian Machowski. A former player from Bundesliga MiddleDeutscher BC where he was coached by Menz, Machowski adds another exceptional three point shooter and upgrades the teams 3spot adding another offensive weapon and experienced player. Playing 3rd division ball in Berlin, Machowski engineered a German Cup upset earlier this season leading his team to a big win over a 2.Bundesliga north team. Look for Machowski to help Jena immediately.
Jena's team is not simply a "Lake Show". Former German National team center Oliver Braun commands respect in the middle averaging 16.9ppg 8.6rpg and stands as one of the best inside big men in the league. An excellent sealer, Braun uses his body well inside and has offensive skills to step out and hit a three of make a play with the dribble against a big man. Bolstering Braun on the boards, 6'8 Gregor Linke joined Jena from tryouts with Bundesliga's Cologne and has added strength to the boards while averaging 9ppg and 4.5rpg. Active, athletic Robert Cardenas has also taken his game to the next level this season bringing great energy to the team as an undersized post man. Cardenas has improved his 3pt shooting and continued his excellent defense. Helping Michael Lake in the backcourt, American point guard Mark Peters has been a quality penetrator and distributor for the Jena team. An excellent on the ball defender, Peters has set the table for his teammates well. Sweet shooting Andre Schroeder has been among the best three point shooters in the league hitting a hot 57% of his treys on his way to 11.4ppg. Big wing Mischa Zlotowski can not be overlooked either as he can shoot threes, post up and rebound.
Ulm's Niki Arinze has dropped dimes to help the team
For Ulm, the team hopes to capitalize on improved teamwork and ballmovement that led to a good offensive performance in the 90-59 win over Bayreuth. Point guard Michael Bree showed signs of returning to top form and shooting guard Kenny Price drilled 7 of 12 three point attempts on his way to a game high 26 points. American forward Niki Arinze has been instrumental in the tremendous improvement in ballmovement with outstanding passes from the post setting up cutting teammates for easy baskets or open jump shots. Forward Florian Mobius has also been strong recently with team play on both ends. An adjusted substitution pattern has helped pair complimentary players together and sparked the teams play. Ulm must be sharp and in top form to meet the challenging game in Jena Saturday.
Last season Ulm played well behind strong games from Michael Bree and Maksym Shtein to capture a hard earned 89-79 win in Jena. Bree finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists while Shtein added 19pts and 7 boards. Emeka Erege also led the team in scoring with 21 pts.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com and be sure to check out the chat with head coach Mike Taylor Sunday November 28th and 10pm German time and 4pm Eastern time.
GO ULM!
MIKE T
4 MICHAEL BREE Ulm playmaker flashing signs of top form
8 KENNY PRICE 7 threes last game/ finding rhythm with Bree
10 EMEKA EREGE Key Ulm player on O + D plays well against Jena
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS excellent play helped Bree, Price, Erege click
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN most consistent Ulmer/ big matchup vs Braun
5 NIKI ARINZE great passing helped team offensive flow
11 PETER HEIZER excellent defender gets top defensive assignmnt
12MICHAEL NIEBLING 7' big man played well in Jena last season
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE Ulm Player of month October/ playing well
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR injured knee makes him unavailable in Jena
6 DENNIS WOOLFOLK veteran saw minutes against Bayreuth
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworking Ulmer busy on and off court
10 MICHAEL LAKE top player hobbled with ankle injury
4 MARK PETERS playmaker/excellent defender/ 8ppg 4.5apg
13 OLIVER BRAUN top inside big man/ 17ppg 8.6rpg
12 ROBERT CARDENAS active/athletic/energy/ 9.9ppg 6rpg
7 ANDRE SCHROEDER 57% 3pt shooter/ 11ppg only 5 2ptfga
SEBASTIAN MACHOWSKI 1st game with Jena vs Ulm
14 GREGOR LINKE physical post/9ppg 4.5rpg/
4 MISCHA ZLOTOWSKI experienced big wing
11MATTHIAS HAUT top young point prospect contributing
